Take Part in a Unique Japanese Snow Digging Festival – Jimendashi

Take Part in a Unique Japanese Snow Digging Festival – Jimendashi Festival! Feb 21-22. (Sat-Sun)

Note: Feb 23 (Mon) is a Public Holiday so you could also organise to Ski/board/Ski at Zao Onsen
or continue travelling around Tohoku or return to Tokyo.

❄️ Jimendashi competition.

"The Jimendashi Kyoso is held in late February. This is a competition in which competitors single-mindedly dig up snow with a shovel to see how fast they reach the earth." It is a very unique festival to participate in and experience. Very few, even the Japanese people, don't know about it. It may also be one of the few times you get to participate in a World Cup!

Must sign-up on the Google form: https://forms.gle/B4cPZJz7Tseob9G2A

Spectators are welcome!

❖ IMPORTANT: 🍎🍎🍎
No experience is needed. / Spectators also welcome.
Hotel space is limited. Please sign up early

❖ Registration
We have two teams registered. 12 people!

■Rough Plan:

When: Saturday - Sunday, 21-22 February (two-day trip)
Meeting place: Tokyo Station

◉Itinerary
✪ Saturday
09:30 am Tokyo Station by Shinkansen
13:30 pm Shinjo Arrive
13:30 pm Hijiori Onsen
05:00 pm Dinner
06:30 pm Jimendashi Party

✪ Sunday
7:30 am Breakfast

9:00 am Tournament reception starts
9:40 am Opening ceremony
10:00 am Solympics in Okurayama Schanze
11:00 am Ground competition starts
12:30 pm Awards ceremony

Option 1 (Sun)
01:59 pm Shuttle bus to Shinjo station
03:17 pm Shinjo station to Tokyo station by Shinkansen
- - - Or further travel to Zao, Sendai...

06:48 pm Arrive at Tokyo station

■ Price
Feb 22-23. (Sat-Sun)
24,500 yen per person - buy your shinkansen or JR Tohoku Wide Pass (please see below).
Includes:
• Hotel (Full course dinner & breakfast)
• Briefing party (Includes snacks and drinks - both alcohol and non alcohol)
• Competition fees

• Digging equipment (shovels, spades, snow scopes etc...)

🍎🚅Please let me know if you need assistance with Shinkansen Tickets or JR Tohoku Wide Pass.

⭐ Optional extra:⭐
- Rubber Boot Rental for festival (1,500 yen)
- Rubber Boot Rental for Snowshoe (1,500 yen)
(you can use snowboard boots if you have them)
- Extra night in Hijori Onsen town (19,500)
◉Discounts:
★ 1,000 yen Early bird (*must sign-up and pay before Jan 15 (Thursday)

★ 1,000 yen Experienced digger (*Joined this trip before.)
★ 1,000 yen Group Discount four(4) or more people in the group.
- Discount is per person for each group member.
- A note must be made in the 'Comment' box listing the group leader when signing up. (group members can be added later)
- Cash back on the day.

◉JR Tohoku Area Pass.
For non-Japanese passport holders you can purchase your own JR Tohoku Area Pass for just 30,000 yen. This includes 5 days of unlimited travel on trains and Shinkansen and seat reservations.
■ Tickets can be purchased at any JR Travel center. or online: https://bit.ly/TohokuAreaPass Please purchase the ticket before the trip. (our departure will be two earlier for ticket offices. The Pass can be purchased in advance as is activated the first day you travel – NOT the day the pass is purchased. You can purchase it up to one month before travel)
■ Please present your original passport (copies of a passport or ID cards are NOT acceptable) at a sales office.
■ The pass has to be collected in person with a valid passport (original). (They cannot be purchased by anyone else, including family members.)
■ If you need help buying or more information on how this works please let me know.